• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 19, 2025

Wembanyama’s Debut Lands ESPN Major Opening-Night Audience

  • Nearly 3M viewers watched Phenom’s first regular season game.
  • Viewership for ESPN’s Wednesday doubleheader jumps by 80%.
Wembanyama Spurs
Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Wemby-mania boosted ESPN to its most-watched opening night game in 11 years. 

An average of 2.99 million viewers watched No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama make his debut with the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night against the Dallas Mavericks, according to ESPN. 

Wembanyama scored 15 points in 17 minutes of action in a 126-119 loss to Dallas. The Mavs-Spurs game peaked at 3.9 viewers, and the average was the second-most for an NBA opening night in ESPN history. 

The game was the most-viewed opener on either ESPN or TNT through the first two nights of the season. 

Viewership in France via NBA League Pass was up more 220% compared to last season’s regular season average, according to the NBA. Videos of Wembanyama posted to the NBA’s social media accounts had 214 million views, the most of any player since the start of the preseason.

ESPN’s first game Wednesday night (Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks) averaged 2.5 million viewers. ESPN averaged 2.75 million viewers between the two games, an 80% jump over the comparable two games a year ago. 

According to Sports MediaWatch, TNT’s Tuesday openers averaged 2.8 million viewers for the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Denver Nuggets and 2.71 million for the Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors. 

Disney’s ESPN and Warner Bros. Discovery’s Turner Sports are in the exclusive negotiating period to renew their respective packages with the NBA, which are set to expire after next season. 

That allows Disney and WBD to see if they can develop a proposal the NBA is willing to bite on before the negotiations are opened up to others in the second half of 2024. The NBA reportedly seeks $50 to $75 billion over the life of a new nine-year deal — at least double what the league gets under its current deals. 

NBC, Amazon, Apple, and  Google are all interested in getting a slice of the next NBA U.S. rights package. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Bradley Beal
exclusive

‘Brad Doesn’t Like Change’: Beal Agent Says He Wants Long-Term Clippers Deal

Beal agreed to a contract buyout with the Suns on Wednesday.

Cleveland’s WNBA Team Follows Golden State’s Proven Blueprint

The franchise will play its first WNBA season in 2028.

Featured Today

Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.
Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.
July 17, 2025

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.

Netflix Beats Projections Again—and Plots Big Holiday Sports Slate

The streaming giant again beats analyst projections in every respect.
Jul 15, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; National League designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a home run in the swing off of after the 2025 MLB All Star Game ended in a tie at Truist Park.
July 16, 2025

MLB All-Star Game Viewership Dips Despite Historic Swing-Off

Game viewership falls 3% despite late dramatics in the unique tiebreaker.
July 17, 2025

ESPN Bidding Against NBC, Apple for MLB Rights Package

The league continues to negotiate with multiple media-rights bidders.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 15, 2025

MLB Home Run Derby Draws 5.7M Viewers on ESPN, Up 5%

ESPN reverses the trend from last year and registers audience growth.
July 15, 2025

WNBA Hits Fourth-Highest ABC Viewership With Clark-Bueckers Duel

Clark missed the first Fever vs. Wings game with an injury.
Brittney Griner and Caitlin Clark
exclusive
July 15, 2025

‘Good Morning America’ Will Air From WNBA All-Star in First

The All-Star Game’s relevance has exploded with the league in recent years.
NBC Sports
exclusive
July 14, 2025

NBC Hiring Ex-Hawks Exec Grant Liffmann As NBA Front Office Insider

Liffmann spent the last three years with Atlanta after covering the Warriors.